Gun charger



E. J. HEIZER Dec. 3, 1946,

GUN CHARGER Filed June l5, 1944 vatented Dec. 3, 1945 Uii'l'ED STATES PATENT OFI-'HCE GUN CHARGER Application June 15, 1944, Serial No. 540,368

9 Claims.

The present -invention relates to guns, and more particularly to a gun charger for recharging and recocking machine guns, automatic cannons and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide a gun charger which is light in weight and compact in construction.

Another object is to provide a gun charger constructed oi a minimum number of parts likely to get out of repair.

Another object is to provide a gun charger which is simple in design and may be taken apart and put together again without the requirement of a high degree of mechanical skill.

'Another object is to provide a gun charger which is rugged in construction and can withstand any rough usage to which it may be subjected.

A further object consists in the combination and arrangement of parts whereby the foregoing objects may be accomplished.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding ofthe illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specication, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of a. gun charger while in inactive position, illustrating an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar` to Figure 1 with the gun charger in operated position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3 3 of Figure 2, illustrating a detail of the gun charger.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a gun charger Ill adapted to be attached to a machine gun, automatic cannon and the like for recharging and recocking the charging mechanism of the gun or cannon. For example, the gun charger in accordance with the present invention is particularly adapted to be used in connection with machine guns oi the Browning type, wherein a stud or bolt carried by the charging mechanism extends through a slot to the exterior of the gun and the stud is adapted to be engaged by operating parts of the gun charger. A machine gun of this type is illustrated in United States Patent No. 2,180,751.

The gun charger le cemprises a substantially tubular casing or housing I I providing a cylinder I2 at one end portion and a guideway I4 at the other end portion, and a piston assembly I5 mounted in the cylinder I2 and adapted to be 5 guided by 'the guideway I4 when in extended or operated position as shown in Figure 2. The

guideway is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed longitudinally extending slots IIB, one of which is adapted to receive the stud or bolt i() B of the charging mechanism of the gun, as

shown in Figure 3 in broken lines.

The piston assembly comprises a suitable piston II, a tubular sleeve I8 having one end thereof secured to the piston, and a ram member I9 l5 Secured to the other end of the sleeve and movable in the guideway for engaging the stud or bolt B and effecting recharging and recocking of the charging mechanism of the gun. A main spring ZIJ for returning the piston assembly to its retracted or inactive position (Figure 1) has one end portion thereof telescoped into the sleeve I8 and the end of this portion engages a shock absorbing element 2| mounted adjacent the piston I'I. The other end of the'spring 20 abuts a collar 22 supported by a cap 24 secured to the end of the casing I I.

The end of the casing II where the piston assembly normally is disposed has a valve device 25 secured thereto for controlling the admission and exhaust of a fluid pressure medium, such as compressed air or the like, adapted to operate the piston assembly. The pressure medium may be supplied from any suitable source and its flow to and from the valve device may be controlled by a valve 26 of any suitable design for alternately connecting the valve device to the source of pressure medium at 2'I and to the atmosphere at 28. The valve 26 may be actuated manually or by mechanical means such as an electrical,

pneumatic or hydraulic device which may be operated manually or automatically either locally or remotely.

The valve device comp-rises a body provided with a passage 3i! in communication with the valve 26 by means of a conduit 3| and extending to a valve chamber 32 formed with a valve seat 34 on which is seated a valve member 35 of the differential pressure type.

A passage 36 extends from the chamber 32 to a second valve chamber 3l which houses a check type valve arrangement. The chamber 31 is provided with a seat 39 at its inleIl for receiving a ball valve member 40 and a second seat 4I at its outlet for receiving a second ball valve member 42. A cylindrical helical spring 44 interposed befective area of the end of the valve member 35" opposite the end engaging the seat 34, whereby the valve member 35 is maintained seated to close the exhaust passage 46 while the pressure medium is introduced into or is maintained in the cylinder l2.

In accordance with the invention, means associated with the piston assembly are provided for controlling the check valve arrangement, whereby the admission of pressure medium into the cylinder is terminated when the piston assembly is operated into a predetermined extended position.

As illustrated herein such means comprise an elongated rod 5i?, extending lengthwise with respect to the cylinder l2 and the guideway i4, which has an end 5l of reduced diameter extending through passage 45 for unseating the ball valve member 42. Adjacent the end 5l the rod extends through a packing 52 carried by the piston i'l serving as a support for this end of the rod, and the other end of the rod is slidably supported by a bushing 53 formed with the cap 24.

The extent of slidable movement ofthe rod and the distance it extends into the valve chamber 3? may be adjusted by a stop collar '54 threaded to the rod and slidably disposed in a recess 55 adjacent the bushing and adapted to abut a shoulder 5E serving as stop means.

The rod normally is urged into a position to unseat the ball valve member 42, as shown in Figure l by means of a spring 57 under compression and telescoped about the rod and within the main spring 29. The spring 5I has one end thereof engaging a collar 5B secured to the rod at about its midpoint, and has its other end engaging a face or shoulder 59 adjacent the bushing 5S. The collar 58 is slidably disposed in a sleeve 5| telescoped between the springs 29 and 57, and having its outer end secured to the cap 24 in any suitable manner.

In operation, as shown in Figure 1, the valve 29 normally establishes communication between the valve device 25 and the atmosphere. The main spring 29 is eiiective to maintain the piston assembly l5 in retracted or inactive position, and the spring 57 urges the rod 59 towards the right as far as the stop collar 54 and shoulder 59 will permit, whereby the end 5l of the rod unseats the ball valve member 42, while the spring 44 retains the ball valve member 49 on its seat 39.

In order to put the gun charger in operation, the valve 2B is actuated to place the valve device in communication with the source of pressure medium, as shown in Figure 2. The pressure medium now enters the passage 39 and flows into the valve chamber 32 and causes the valve member 35 to engage its seat 34 to close the exhaust port. rhe pressure medium then flows through the passage 35,'unseats the ball valve member 49 and enters the cylinder by way of the valve chamber 3'? and the inlet passage 45. l

The pressure medium entering the cylinder is eiective to drive the piston assembly I5 towards the left into extended or operating position, as

shown in Figure 2. Near the end of its outward stroke, the shock absorbing element 2l carried by the piston il engages the collar 58 secured to the rod 50 and carries the rod towards the left, in opposition to the spring 57, a sufficient distance to move the end 5| oi the rod out of the valve chamber 31, whereby the ball valve member 42 is moved into engagement with its seat by the influence of the spring 44 and the pressure medium in the valve chamber 31. The ball valve member now acts as a check valve, and serves to retain pressure medium in the cylinder I2.

When the piston assembly is extended as `iust described, the ram member l 9 engages the bolt or stud B (Figure 3) and moves it towards the left to recocli and recharge the charging mechanism of the gun.

In order to permit the gun charger to assume its initial or normally inactive position (Figure 1), the valve 26 is actuated to place the valve device 25 in communication with the atmosphere. The pressure medium in the valve chamber 32 is then relieved by way of the passage 39 and the conduit 3l, whereupon the exhaust port valve member 35 is rapidly unseated and the pressure medium is exhausted to the atmosphere by a relatively large port 69 extending from the chamber 32.

As the piston assembly is returned by the main spring 25 the collar 58 carried by the rod 50 is released and the spring 5l moves the rod into a position to unseat the ball valve member 42. The passage of pressure medium from the valve chamber 37 to the'valve cham-ber 32 is prevented by the ball valve member 40 engaging its seat 39.l

In practice the foregoing described operation may take place inV a fraction of a second thus enabling the gun charger to put a gun back into operation in a minimum interval` of time.

An advantage of the valve arrangement for shutting off the pressure medium whenthe piston assembly is at or near the end of its outward stroke, is that only suiiicient pressure medium, or a slight excess to overcome the pressure ci the spring 2i! is admitted into the cylinder l2. Upon movement of ythepiston assembly to its outwardly extended position, the inlet 45 is closed, thereby preventing further pressure medium from being admitted, which would merely build up unnecessary pressure in the cylinder i2. In this marmer, a considerablesaving in pressure medium is eiiected.

If desired, the ram member I9 may be utilized for holding the bolt of thel gun while it is not intended to be fired, whereby the gun is conditioned for iiring. This may be accomplished without using a considerable amount of pressure medium, because the stop collar 54 is so adjusted that the rod 5E! is moved to facilitate seating of the ball valve member 42 to` prevent entry of pressure medium into the cylinder I2 at or near the end of the outward stroke of the ram member. to maintain the ram member in its outward extending position Without the use of additional pressure medium.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved gun charger which is extremely simple and compact in design, and is rapid and efficient in' operation.

As various changes may b-e made in the form. construction and arrangement of the parts herewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacriiicing any of The gas trapped in the' cylinder serves its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is tobe interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

It :is also to be understood that the followingy claims are intended to cover all the generic and specic features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim:

1. In a gun charger, the combination of a cylinder, means for admitting a pressure medium into said cylinder including a valve, a piston assembly in said cylinder including a ram for retracting the bolt of a gun, said assembly being operable in o-ne direction by pressure medium introduced into said cylinder, a guideway for said ram, a spring for moving said piston assembly in the opposite direction, a member extending lengthwise with respect to said guideway and said cylinder having one end positioned for operating said valve, a spring for normally causing said member to open said valve, and means on said member engageable by said piston assembly upon movement thereof in the first mentioned direction to move said member into a position to effect closing of said valve.

2. In a gun charger, the combination of a cylinder, means for admitting a pressure medium into said cylinder including a check valve, a piston assembly in said cylinder including a ram for retracting the boit of a gun, said. assembly being operable in one direction by pressure medium introduced into said cylinder, a guideway for said ram, a spring for moving said piston assembly in the opposite direction, a rod extending lengthwise with respect to said guideway and said cylinder having one end positioned for engaging said check valve and having its other end mounted for sliding movement with respect to said guideway, a spring for normally urging said rod to unseat said checl: valve, and means on said rod engageable by said piston assemby upon movement thereof in the first mentioned direction to move said rod into a position to permit said check valve to seat.

3. In a gun charger, the combination of a cylinder, means for admitting a pressure med-Zum into said cylinder including a check valve, a piston assembly in said cylinder including a ram for retracting the bolt of a gun, said assembly being operable in one direction by pressure medium introduced into said cylinder, a guideway for said ram having abutment means adjacent its outward end, a spring for moving said piston assembly in the opposite direction, an elongated member extending lengthwise with respect to said guideway and said cylinder having one end positioned for engaging said check valve, abutment means on said member engageable by said piston assembly upon movement thereof in the rst mentioned direction to move said member into a position to permit said check Valve to seat, and a spring having one end engaging said abutment means of said guideway and having its other end engaging said abutment means of said member for normally urging said member to unseat said check valve.

4. In a gun charger, the combination of a cylinder, means for admitting a pressure medium into said cylinder including a check valve, a piston assembly in said cylinder including a ram for retracting the bolt of a gun, said assembly being operable in one direction by pressure medium introduced into said cylinder, a guideway for said ram, a spring for moving said piston assembly in the opposite direction,a member extending lengthwise with respect to said guideway and said cylinder having one end positioned for engaging said check valve, a spring for normally urging said memberto unseat said check valve, means 0n said member engageable by said piston assembly upon movement thereof in the first mentioned direction to move said member into a position to permit said check valve to seat, and means associated with said member and said guideway for adjusting the extent of unseating of said check valve by said member.

5. In a gun charger, the combination of a cylinder, means for admitting a pressure medium into said cylinder including a check valve, a piston assembly in said cylinder including a ram for retracting the bolt of a gun, Said assembly being operable in one direction by pressure medium introduced into said cylinder, a guideway for said ram, a spring for moving said piston assembly in the opposite direction, a rod extending lengthwise with respect to said guideway and said cylinder having one end positioned for engaging said check valve, a second spring telescoped about said rod for normally urging said rod to unseat said check Valve, collar means on said rod engageable by said piston assembly upon movement thereof in the rst mentioned direction to move said rod into a position to permit said check valve to seat, and a sleeve having one end secured to Said guideway adjacent its outward end and being in telescoping relation with said second spring and serving as guide means for said collar means and said spring.

6. In a gun charger, the combination of a cylinder, means for admitting a pressure medium into said cylinder including a check valve, a piston assembly in said cylinder including a ram for retracting the bolt of a gun, said assembly being operable in one direction by pressure medium introduced into said cylinder, a guideway for said ram, having a bushing at one end thereof provided With abutment means and stop means, a spring for moving said piston assembly in the opposite direction, a rod extending lengthwise with respect to said guideway and said cylinder having one end positioned for engaging said check valve and having its other end slidably mounted in said bushing, a collar on said rod engageable by said piston assembly upon movement thereof in the first mentioned direction to move said rod into a position to permit said check valve to seat, a second spring having one end engaging said collar and having said other end engaging said abutment means for normally urging said rod to unseat said check valve, and a collar adjustably connected to said rod for engaging said stop means to determine the extent of unseating of said check valve by said rod.

7. In a gun charger, the combination of a cylinder, means for admitting a pressure medium into said cylinder including a check valve, a piston assembly in said cylinder including a ram for retracting the bolt of a gun, said assembly being operable in one direction by pressure medium introduced into said cylinder, a guideway for said ram having a bushing at one end thereof provided with abutment means and stop means, a spring for moving said piston assembly in the opposite direction, a rod extending lengthwise with respect to said guideway and said cylinder having one end positioned for engaging said check valve and having its other end slidably mounted in said bushing, a collar on said rod engageable by 7` saidl piston assembly upon. movement thereofv in the rst mentioned. direction to move said rod into. a position to permit said check valve to seat,y

a second spring having onev end engaging said collar and having said other end engaging said abutment means for normally urging said rod to unseat. said check valve, a collar adiustably connected to said rad for engagingsaid` stop means to determine the extent of unseating of said check valve byl said ro'd, and a sleeve. secured to saidbushingA and being in telescoping relation with said second spring and said rod and serving as guide meansfor said second spring-and said collar.

8. In a gun' charger, thel combination of acylinder, means for admitting a pressure medium into said cylinder including acheck valve, springmeans for seating said check valve; a pistonassembly. in said cylinder including aramA for' retracting the bolt of a gun, saidl assemblyk beingA operable in one direction by pressuremedium introducedinto said cylinder, a guideway for said.

ram, having a bushing at one end thereof provided With abutment means and stop means, a spring for moving said piston assemblyv in the oppositel direction, said spring having one endY positioned at the outward endy of. said guideway and having its other end engaging said piston assembly, a rod extending lengthwise with respect` to said guidewayand said cylinder havingone end positioned for. engaging said checkv valve and having its, other end slidably mountedy in said bushing, a collar on said rodV engageable by said piston assemblyv upon movementthereof in they rst mentioned direction to a predetermined posi.- tion to move said rod into a position to permit saidY check valve to seat, a second spring having one end engaging said collar and having said other end engaging said abutment means for normally urging said rod to unseat said check valve, a collar adjustably connected to said rod for engaging said stop means to determinel the extent of unseating of said check valve by said rod, and a sleeve secured to said bushing andvbeing in telescoping relation with said second spring and said rod' and serving as guide means for said second spring and said collar, said first spring being telescoped about said sleeve.

9. In a gun charger, the combination of a cylinder, means for admitting a pressure medium into said cylinder including a valve, a piston assembly in said cylinder operable in one direction by pressure medium introduced into said cylinder to move said piston assembly into a predetermined position, resilient means for moving said piston assembly in an opposite direction, valve actuating means associated With said piston assembly and said valve and being engageable by said piston assembly prior to completion of its movement in the rst mentioned direction, to permit closing of said valve, andresilient means connected with said valve actuating means for normally causing said valve actuating means to maintain said valve in an open position.

EDWARD J. HEIZER. 

